Systems and methods for attaching an accessory to a  rail of a firearm

ABSTRACT

A system for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm is disclosed. The system comprising an aperture in the accessory, a slot in the accessory disposed adjacent to the aperture, a nut comprising a protrusion configured to mate with the slot, and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and mate with the nut.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates to firearms and more particularly relates to systems and methods for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm.

BACKGROUND

Certain firearms are equipped with mounting systems in the form of rails for attaching accessories thereto. One example rail is the Keymod rail. The attachment of accessories to the firearm, however, may increase the size and weight of the firearm. Accordingly, there is a need for an attachment system that is sleek in profile and light weight.

SUMMARY

Some or all of the above needs and/or problems may be addressed by certain embodiments disclosed herein. For example, a system for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm is disclosed. The system comprising an aperture in the accessory, a slot in the accessory disposed adjacent to the aperture, a nut comprising a protrusion configured to mate with the slot, and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and mate with the nut. In some instances, the accessory is a panel.

Other features and aspects of the disclosure will be apparent or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and the detailed description. All other features and aspects, as well as other system, method, and assembly embodiments, are intended to be included within the description and are intended to be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 depicts an upper perspective view of a system for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts a lower perspective view of a system for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts an upper perspective view of a panel in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts a lower perspective view of a panel in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an upper perspective view of a nut in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts a lower perspective view of a nut in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an upper perspective view of a fastener in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described below are embodiments of systems and methods for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm. The firearm may be a conventional firearm. For example, the firearm may be an M-16 style rifle, an AR-15 style rifle, an AR-10 style rifle, or an M-4 style rifle, among others. Any firearm may be used, including handguns, rifles, shotguns, or the like. The firearm may include a rail. One example rail is the Keymod rail. Any rail system may be used. Firearm accessories may be attached to the rail by way of the apparatuses, systems, and methods disclosed herein. Accessories may include panels, grips, sights, scopes, lights, straps, grenade launchers, bipods, or the like. Any firearm accessory may be attached to the rail of the firearm.

Generally speaking, a system for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm may include an aperture in the accessory, a slot in the accessory disposed adjacent to the aperture, a nut comprising a protrusion configured to mate with the slot, and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and mate with the nut. In some instances, the accessory may be a panel, and the slot and protrusion may be arcuate in shape.

In certain embodiments, the nut may include a top surface, a bottom surface, and a hole extending therebetween. The top surface of the nut may include an outer taper. In addition, the top surface of the nut may include an upper inner taper about the hole. The bottom surface of the nut may include a lower inner taper about the hole. The nut may include internal threads about the hole that are configured to mate with external threads on the fastener. In some instances, the aperture may include an upper inner taper, and the fastener may comprise a tapered portion that corresponds to the upper inner taper of the aperture.

These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be described in more detail through reference to the accompanying drawings in the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. This brief introduction, including section titles and corresponding summaries, is provided for the reader's convenience and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims or the proceeding sections. Furthermore, the techniques described above and below may be implemented in a number of ways and in a number of contexts. Several example implementations and contexts are provided with reference to the following figures, as described below in more detail. However, the following implementations and contexts are but a few of many.

FIGS. 1-7 schematically depict an attachment assembly 100 (or portions thereof) for attaching an accessory 102 to a rail of a firearm. In some instances, the accessory may be a panel 104. The panel 104 may be any size, shape, or configuration. The panel 104 may include an outer surface 106 and an inner surface 108. The outer surface 106 may be textured or the like. The panel 104 may include an aperture 110 therethrough. In some instances, the panel 104 may include a number of apertures 110. The aperture 110 may include an upper inner taper 112 about the outer surface 106. The aperture 110 also may include a lower uniform portion 114 about the inner surface 108. The aperture 110 may be any size, shape, or configuration. The panel 104 may include a slot 116 on the inner surface 108 adjacent to the aperture 110. In some instances, the slot 116 may be arcuate in shape. The slot 116 may be any size, shape, or configuration.

The attachment assembly 100 may include a nut 118. In some instances, the nut 118 may be positioned about the inner surface 108 of the panel 104. The nut 118 may include a top surface 120, a bottom surface 122, and a hole 124 extending therebetween. In some instances, the nut 118 may include a protrusion 126 extending from the top surface 120. The protrusion 126 may be configured to mate with the slot 116. In this manner, the protrusion 126 may be arcuate in shape. The protrusion 126 may be any size, shape, or configuration. In certain embodiments, the top surface 120 may include an outer taper 128. In addition, the top surface 120 may include an upper inner taper 130 about the hole 124. The bottom surface 122 may include a lower inner taper 132 about the hole 124. The nut 118 may include internal threads 134 about the hole 124.

The attachment assembly 100 may include a fastener 136. In some instances, the fastener 136 may be a screw or the like. The fastener 136 may be configured to pass through the aperture 110 from the outer surface 106 of the panel 104 and mate with the nut 118 disposed about the inner surface 108 of the panel 104. For example, the fastener 136 may include external threads 138 configured to mate with the internal threads 134 of the nut 118. In some instances, the fastener 136 may comprise a tapered portion 140 that corresponds to the upper inner taper 112 of the aperture 110. The fastener 136 also may include a uniform portion 142 that corresponds to the lower uniform portion 114 of the aperture 110.

In use, a wall of a rail assembly may be captured between the inner surface 108 of the panel 104 and the outer taper 128 of the top surface 120 of the nut 118. In this manner, the attachment assembly 100 may secure the panel 104 to the rail assembly. In some instances, two attachment assemblies 100 may be used to secure the panel 104 to the rail assembly. For example, a first attachment assembly 144 may be disposed on a first end 146 of the panel 104, and a second attachment assembly 148 may be disposed on a second end 150 of the panel 104. In such instances, the slots 116 may be disposed on the same side of the apertures 110 such that the outer taper 128 of the top surface 120 of the nuts 118 face the same direction. Any number of attachment assemblies may be used.

In this manner, the system 100 may be compatible with Keymod rail assemblies. For example, the panel 104 may be positioned on an outer surface of the rail assembly such that the apertures 110 are aligned with the keyholes (Keymod) of the rail assembly. The nuts 118 may be disposed on the inner surface of the rail assembly such that the holes 124 are aligned with the apertures 110 in the panel 104. The fasteners 136 may be positioned through the apertures 110 and holes 124. The fasteners 136 may be screwed into the holes 124 to secure the panel 104 to the rail assembly.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A system for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm, the system comprising: an aperture in the accessory; a slot in the accessory disposed adjacent to the aperture; a nut comprising a protrusion configured to mate with the slot; and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and mate with the nut.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein nut comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a hole extending therebetween.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the top surface comprises an outer taper.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the top surface comprises an upper inner taper about the hole.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the bottom surface comprises a lower inner taper about the hole.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the nut comprises internal threads.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aperture comprises an upper inner taper.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the fastener comprises a tapered portion that corresponds to the upper inner taper of the aperture.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises external threads.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the slot is arcuate.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is arcuate.
 12. A system of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a panel.
 13. A system for attaching a panel to a rail of a firearm, the system comprising: an aperture in the panel; an arcuate slot in the panel disposed adjacent to the aperture; a nut comprising an arcuate protrusion configured to mate with the arcuate slot, wherein the nut comprises a top surface with an outer taper; and a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and mate with the nut.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein nut comprises a bottom surface and a hole extending between the top surface and the bottom surface.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the top surface comprises an upper inner taper about the hole.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the bottom surface comprises a lower inner taper about the hole.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the nut comprises internal threads.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the aperture comprises an upper inner taper and the fastener comprises a tapered portion that corresponds to the upper inner taper of the aperture.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises external threads.
 20. A method for attaching an accessory to a rail of a firearm, the method comprising: forming an aperture in the accessory; forming a slot in the accessory adjacent to the aperture; providing a nut comprising a protrusion configured to mate with the slot; and providing a fastener configured to pass through the aperture and mate with the nut. 